Odd stuff growing on rocks

[Evan West]

So I've had this for a while now and it's never gotten to really be an issue but it's starting to bug me. I'm not sure how well it shows in the photo but it's the clearish kinda opeq stuff that is growing on the rocks. Only a few mm tall and fuzzy would be the best way to describe it. It's not really slimey either but it's annoying as it comes back every time it's brushed off.

Not sure what it is or how to be rid of it.

 

[Brian W]

Do you have a closer pic? I really do not notice anything. It could be a harmless sponge. They come in mutiple colors including the clearish white color you are describing.
They could be pineapple sponges, that is the most common sponge.
I have attached a photo of what they look like. Does what you see look like this?

 

[Evan West]

Do you have a closer pic? I really do not notice anything. It could be a harmless sponge. They come in mutiple colors including the clearish white color you are describing.
They could be pineapple sponges, that is the most common sponge.
I have attached a photo of what they look like. Does what you see look like this?

Nah it's not sponges I suspect its some kind of "bio film" and it's super hard to actually get a picture of because it's mostly translucent and the camera dosnt pick it up well.

 

[hyprc]

Does it form a sort of hair (I'm not talking like GHA, this is shorter and more furry looking) on the rocks and flow with the current? Stays fairly short? Or quite literally like a flat film?

 

[Evan West]

Does it form a sort of hair (I'm not talking like GHA, this is shorter and more furry looking) on the rocks and flow with the current? Stays fairly short? Or quite literally like a flat film?

Yeah I'd say that's pretty close to how it looks!

 

[hyprc]

Yeah I'd say that's pretty close to how it looks!

Well in my case I'm nitrate limited and I have a good amount of the algae I described plus some spots of cyano. I do have phosphate issues (saturated rocks) but run GFO constantly (in small amounts) but it doesn't seem to bother the algae or cyano at all really. Other than that my chemistry is pretty unremarkable/stable. Sand and rock does build up significant detritus between water changes. Only thing I've found is a Foxface will eat it and control it very well (you'll think he's gotten rid of it even) but mine started picking at coral once his massive algae supply was eaten up... hopefully someone with some real knowledge of this stuff can chime in - it's very annoying to look at but doesn't seem to bother my corals too much

 

[Evan West]

Well in my case I'm nitrate limited and I have a good amount of the algae I described plus some spots of cyano. I do have phosphate issues (saturated rocks) but run GFO constantly (in small amounts) but it doesn't seem to bother the algae or cyano at all really. Other than that my chemistry is pretty unremarkable/stable. Sand and rock does build up significant detritus between water changes. Only thing I've found is a Foxface will eat it and control it very well (you'll think he's gotten rid of it even) but mine started picking at coral once his massive algae supply was eaten up... hopefully someone with some real knowledge of this stuff can chime in - it's very annoying to look at but doesn't seem to bother my corals too much

Yeah i also have very low nitrates and infact I'm shocked they stay that way as I feed a tone. No room for a foxface tho as it's a 20g. Wonder if raising nitrate will help. I might break down and just start dosing nitrate or perhaps run my skimmer on a timer so it takes less out.

Time to summon the all knowing #reefsquad

 

[Brew12]

Yeah i also have very low nitrates and infact I'm shocked they stay that way as I feed a tone. No room for a foxface tho as it's a 20g. Wonder if raising nitrate will help. I might break down and just start dosing nitrate or perhaps run my skimmer on a timer so it takes less out.

Time to summon the all knowing #reefsquad

I saw Reefsquad.. but then I realized you wanted someone who actually knows something!

I have that all over my rock too, if its what I'm thinking off. I know I need a little bigger CuC since the 150 snails and 30 hermits can't quite keep up.

What size CuC do you have?

 

[Paullawr]

Yes had the same running nutrient poor system. On top off the fluff on mine looked like a Vale for choice of better words. Assumed it was nothing more than a bacterial boom from adding too much prodibo and microbacter 7.

 

[Evan West]

I saw Reefsquad.. but then I realized you wanted someone who actually knows something! [emoji14]

I have that all over my rock too, if its what I'm thinking off. I know I need a little bigger CuC since the 150 snails and 30 hermits can't quite keep up.

What size CuC do you have?

Well it's a 20g display and I have 5 trocus snails....maybe 4, Idk haven't counted in a while and ya never know, one might have gotten stuck on it's back. And 1 hermit crab. Not a very large crew

 

[Evan West]

Yes had the same running nutrient poor system. On top off the fluff on mine looked like a Vale for choice of better words. Assumed it was nothing more than a bacterial boom from adding too much prodibo and microbacter 7.

Yeah that's a decent way to describe it, I'm not too worried about it it's just annoying to look at

 

[Paullawr]

Yes I don't believe it bothered anything. You will probably find it clears up if you ease up on nutrient reduction.

 

[jsker]

Mulm link google search link

 

[Evan West]

More pictures but no idea if you guys can see much, viewing on a phone helps for some reason

 

[Brew12]

More pictures but no idea if you guys can see much, viewing on a phone helps for some reason

I feel your best answer is to expand your CuC. I would recommend reaching out to John at reefcleaners.org and explaining to him what you are dealing with. He has been a fantastic suppliers of bulk snails/hermits for me in addition to being a knowledgeable resource.

 

[Maritimer]

Doesn't appear to be photosynthetic, so I'd have to go with a bacterial mat of some kind - although to be certain, it would probably have to go under a microscope.

I'm sure there's something that'll keep it trimmed back.

~Bruce

 

[Paullawr]

Yes this is what I thought it was when had it myself.

 

[Evan West]

Guess I'll look into cuc options

 

[Sleepydoc]

Looks like a bacterial growth. How much live rock do you have?

 

[Ranjib]

U need more cuc also use a power head to wash it off right before water changes, that will reduce it significantly ,